Exxon Mobil is the world’s largest publicly traded oil company. Exxon Mobil Corp. XOM 0.42 % , the world’s largest publicly traded oil company, saw its profit plunge 63% to the lowest level since 1999, a year when it nearly doubled in size by acquiring rival Mobil in an $80 billion deal. The sharp decline came amid a loss from its business producing oil and natural gas, one that largely came from flagging operations in U.S. shale basins. Profits from refining oil into products such as gasoline and diesel, an area that had helped the company weather the blow of lower prices in the past 18 months, also fell by almost half. Investors shrugged off the declines, reflecting optimism stemming from a recent rally in crude prices as the company beat analyst expectations. Shares of Exxon edged up 0.3% in premarket trading to $88.25 and are up more than […]